With more than 250 clubs and organizations at �鶹��Ƶ, students have countless opportunities to find purpose and meaning in life – and Alexa Nigriny ’28 may be one of the most actively involved in helping classmates do just that.

The psychology and human service studies major is involved in Yarn Arts, the Super Smash Bros. team for Club Esports, Music for Dementia, Psychology Club, �鶹��Ƶ Volunteers, Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity, Sustainability Volunteers, the Student Union Board and even the Milk Club.

Beyond her clubs and organizations, Nigriny is a senior resident assistant in the Historic Neighborhood, a peer educator for �鶹��Ƶ 1010 and a SMART mentor in the Center for Race, Ethnicity & Diversity Education. In each of those jobs, she says, it’s important to build community.

As a senior resident assistant, Nigriny helps first-year students navigate their transition to college. What takes a floor in a residence hall and makes it into a community where all feel welcomed? The short answer: Get to really know the people you live and work next to rather than just passing them by.

“‘You have a place here. We need you here.’ Nurturing that feeling of being needed and being wanted in a place is so important,” Nigriny said. “That’s what makes and breaks a community. If you know you belong and that you were needed, you will stay.”

For Nigriny, community is about more than making connections. It’s about finding a place and purpose within those relationships. At �鶹��Ƶ, students take on many roles, from friends and classmates to mentors and leaders, each contributing to their sense of belonging.

“It is through the positions that we have here that give us our place and purposes and is one of the many things that make �鶹��Ƶ feel like home,” Nigriny said. “When you take time to get to know someone and realize how much you have in common or how similar you are, human connection is forged and community is built.”

But what Nigriny finds most rewarding is watching others discover where they belong. She sees a change in her friends, residents and classmates as they find their passions and begin to understand what they want from their college experience.

And in helping others find their place, Nigriny has discovered something about herself.

“For me being able to play even a small role in that is what makes me feel like I’m doing exactly what I’m meant to do,” she said, “helping people find their purposes, and helping people discover who they want to be – that is one of my purposes.”

Alexa Nigriny ’28 is part of Huemanity of People, a series by the Division of Inclusive Excellence highlighting the people, paradigms and praxis of inclusive excellence that shape �鶹��Ƶ’s community. Learn more on the Inclusive Excellence website.

On Friday, Oct. 23, Danieley Center Neighborhood will host their annual Halloween Fall Fest from 4 to 6 p.m. on the Daniel Commons patio. All students are welcome to come enjoy food and treats like apple cider and caramel applies, spooky activities, raffle prizes, tote bag painting, potion making and DIY fall cleaning supplies!

Sunday, Oct, 25, at 6 p.m., East Neighborhood is hosting glow-in-the-dark pumpkin painting – come for the crafts, stay for the s’mores and cider! Join the fun at the East fire pit.

Tuesday, Oct. 27, Colonnades residents can enjoy pumpkin carving and painting in the Colonnades Café (Staley 101) from 4-5:30 pm.

Station at Mill Point. Residents can paint pumpkins, make pumpkin ornaments and enjoy sweet treats at the SAMP Depot on Wednesday, Oct. 28 from 6:30-8 p.m.

On Oct. 28, the Historic Neighborhood will host their annual Spooky Open Mic Night at 8 p.m. on the Mooney lawn. Costumes, treats, community and you!

Loy Center Neighborhood is hosting its annual Trick or Treat on Greek Street Wednesday, Oct. 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. �鶹��Ƶ faculty and staff are invited to bring their children to Loy Center Neighborhood to trick or treat and enjoy Halloween activities sponsored by Fraternity and Sorority Life.

Crest residents can express their spooky and artistic flair with pumpkin painting on Wednesday, Oct. 28 in the Crest Clubhouse from 6:30 – 8 p.m.

Oaks Neighborhood is hosting a spooky treat making event on Friday, Oct. 30 from 4-6pm.

The annual Global Fall Festival is on Friday, Oct. 30 from 4-5:30 p.m. in the Global quad. Stop by for fall and spooky crafts, food, music, Pelican’s and prizes at this great celebration of community. The winners of the Global House Cup will be announced!

The HEED Award is a prestigious honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to academic excellence, belonging and community-building across all levels of campus life.

�鶹��Ƶ will be featured, along with 60 other recipients, in the October 2026 issue of Insight Into Academia magazine. This latest honor recognizes the work �鶹��Ƶ as an institution, and its students do to make a more inclusive community.

“What continues to distinguish �鶹��Ƶ is that inclusive excellence is central to how we define educational excellence. We put people, relationships, and human differences at the heart of learning and at the foundation of a meaningful personal, professional, and civic life,” said Randy Williams, vice president for inclusive excellence. “Across the university, we share responsibility for creating an environment where people are seen, valued, and affirmed in their identities and can experience a genuine sense of belonging.”

The magazine uses a detailed scoring process, a holistic approach and a team of experienced higher education professionals to review each application.

“Our standards are high, and we look for institutions where academic excellence and belonging are woven into the work being done every day across their campus,” said Lenore Pearlstein, co-publisher of Insight into Academia magazine.

Over the past several years, �鶹��Ƶ has expanded its SMART mentor program (which connects first-year students with upperclass students) to support and mentor more students. The university has also expanded use of Living Learning Communities, including the new Mi Casa community. International student support efforts have also increased with the addition of a new staff member in that office to better support students with visas at �鶹��Ƶ.

In the summer of 2026, �鶹��Ƶ will also begin the �鶹��Ƶ Launch program, a 6-credit, 3-week residential transition program to give incoming students an intentional start on college life. �鶹��Ƶ Launch is intentionally designed to meet the needs of neurodiverse students, including those with ADHD, autism spectrum conditions, anxiety or executive functioning challenges.

The university’s fly-in program, �鶹��ƵYOU, is specifically designed to open access for students who would otherwise not be able to visit campus. The program fully funds travel and an overnight stay at �鶹��Ƶ. Additionally, the program offers up to $250 in travel support for parents/guardians/supporters.

Williams acknowledged the following �鶹��Ƶ faculty and staff who contributed information and suggestions for the award application:

• Naeemah Clark, Associate Provost for Academic Inclusive Excellence
• Mike Haskins, Vice President for Marketing and Communications
• Monica Isbell, Director of Academic Accommodations and Accessibility
• Kimberly Romero, Assistant Dean of Admissions for Inclusive Excellence
• Rob Springer, Senior Advisor for Institutional Effectiveness
• Paul Tongsri, Assistant Dean for Student Success and Retention

For more information about the 2026 HEED Award, visit .

�鶹��Ƶ Insight Into Academia

Insight Into Academia magazine is the leader in advancing best practices in higher education excellence. Through thought-provoking print and online articles, we share expert advice, valuable resources, in-depth profiles of top programs at colleges and universities, headline news, and much more to help keep our readers informed and empower them to advance initiatives at their institutions. Current, archived, and digital issues of Insight Into Academia magazine are available online at insightintoacademia.com.

Nearly 1,600 new students arrived at �鶹��Ƶ on Friday, Aug. 21, as the university welcomed the Class of 2030.

Despite a mix of rain and sunshine, staff members in Student Life and Residence Life worked to make the Move-In Day process as seamless as possible for students and their families. Student organizations and �鶹��Ƶ Athletics teams also lent a hand, helping unload vehicles and carry students’ belongings into their new homes.

Familiar items in a new home

For many members of the Class of 2030, those belongings include more than the essentials for college life. As they begin a new chapter at �鶹��Ƶ, students brought photographs, books, keepsakes and other reminders of the people and places they call home.

Ale Furano ’30 arrived at �鶹��Ƶ from Greenwich, Connecticut, with three Polaroid photos of his family and friends. A Communications Fellow who plans to study sport management, Furano said he is looking forward to the opportunities ahead.

“I’m excited to meet new people and have a great opportunity and a new way of life,” Furano said. “I think the opportunities at �鶹��Ƶ are really great, especially in the sport management field.”

Avery McTigue ’30, who plans to study nursing, is looking forward to joining clubs and organizations and exploring study abroad opportunities. Among the items making her new room feel more like home is an �鶹��Ƶ-themed Jellycat plush toy with a special connection to her friends.

“The special item I brought from home is my �鶹��Ƶ ‘Jellycat,’” said McTigue, who is from Bergen County, New Jersey. “My friends threw a ‘bed party’ for me, and it reminds me of them. Basically, they decorate your whole room, and it’s all �鶹��Ƶ stuff.”

For George Schneider ’30, from Seattle, Washington, the move to �鶹��Ƶ meant finding room for his vinyl collection. Schneider chose �鶹��Ƶ because of its acting program. The Princeton Review recently ranked �鶹��Ƶ No. 1 for Best College Theater, while The Hollywood Reporter included �鶹��Ƶ on its list of the “25 Best Drama Schools in the World.”

“I’m very excited to be independent and expand on my training,” Schneider said. “I brought my record player and about 20 of my records. I knew I wasn’t going to bring a lot for my room, but I wanted to bring something to remember home by.”

An avid reader, Ryan Parker ’30, who plans to study journalism, made sure one of her books made the trip from Dallas, Texas. For Parker, attending �鶹��Ƶ also means experiencing a new part of the country.

“I chose �鶹��Ƶ because I felt it was the best for me, and I felt it would be a good transition as well,” Parker said. “I’m most excited to meet new people, especially being from Texas and being in a different part of the country.”

A class from around the world

The students arriving on campus bring a wide range of backgrounds, experiences and academic interests. Members of the incoming class come from 40 states and Washington, D.C., as well as 19 countries, including Singapore, Spain, Norway, Canada, Serbia, South Korea, China and New Zealand.

The most represented states are North Carolina, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Maryland, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Illinois.

Fourteen percent of incoming students are the first in their families to attend college. The class also enters �鶹��Ƶ with a strong academic record, with an average high school GPA of 4.09.

Students are bringing a broad range of academic interests to campus. The 10 most popular intended majors among incoming students are psychology, finance, biology, business analytics & AI, marketing, nursing, exercise science, elementary education, sport management and political science.

Several programs are seeing notable increases in interest compared with last year’s incoming class. The number of new students intending to major in elementary education increased 41%, while finance increased 39% and biology increased 16%.

The community classroom experience

Those statistics are reflected in the individual journeys bringing students to �鶹��Ƶ.

Alexis Jacobs ’30 of Westport, Connecticut, was drawn to the university because of its size and sense of community. To personalize her new space, Jacobs brought handmade frames filled with reminders of the people, places and experiences important to her.

“I made these frames with different prints, photos, places I’ve been and family members,” Jacobs said.

Peter Matijevic ’30, who plans to study business analytics and applied mathematics, brought a reminder of his Massachusetts roots: a Drake Maye NFL jersey.

“It reminds me of Massachusetts and my favorite NFL player,” Matijevic said. “I chose �鶹��Ƶ because it’s a beautiful campus and has small classes, so I could get to know my teachers.”

�鶹��Ƶ’s teacher-scholar-mentor model among its faculty is a touchstone of the university’s academic experience. For five years in a row, �鶹��Ƶ has been ranked best in the nation for undergraduate teaching, and The Princeton Review recently ranked the university as No. 4 Best Classroom Experience.

Following Move-In Day, students attend New Student Orientation, including New Student Convocation on Saturday, Aug. 22.

The Princeton Review has again featured �鶹��Ƶ in a popular college guide that annually recognizes excellence in dozens of categories, with the university placing among the top 25 schools in 15 categories and in the top 10 of eight categories, including #1 Best College Theater.

�鶹��Ƶ’s profile in “” includes more than a dozen recognitions:

• #1 Best College Theater
• #4 Best Classroom Experience
• #6 Best Student Support and Counseling Services
• #6 Best College Dorms
• #8 Happiest Students
• #9 Most Beautiful Campus
• #9 Everyone Plays Intramural Sports
• #10 Their Students Love These Colleges
• #11 Best Campus Food
• #12 Best Career Services
• #12 Best-Run Colleges
• #18 Most Active Student Government
• #23 Professors Get High Marks
• #24 Best Quality of Life
• #25 Green Matters: Everyone Cares �鶹��Ƶ Conservation

The Princeton Review chose the 392 colleges for the book based on its surveys in 2025-26 of 2,000 college administrators about their school’s academic offerings. The company also surveyed students attending the colleges in the book who rated their schools on dozens of topics and reported on their campus experiences at them. Only about 14% of America’s nearly 2,800 four-year colleges are in the book.

“We are delighted to name �鶹��Ƶ one of our Best Colleges for 2027, and we recommend it to students searching for their ‘best-fit’ college,” said Rob Franek, The Princeton Review’s editor-in-chief and lead author of The Best 392 Colleges.  “�鶹��Ƶ has outstanding academic programs; we also took into account the candid feedback we received about it from its very own customers—its enrolled students.”

The rankings are entirely based on the company’s surveys of students attending the schools in the book who reported on their campus experiences at their schools. Surveys of 172,000 students (about 439 per school on average) were tallied for the rankings in The Best 392 Colleges.

Information on the for the rankings and the student is published in the book and on .

Select Responses Cited in “The Best 391 Colleges”

• �鶹��Ƶ provides “meaningful access to professors, research opportunities, internships, and leadership roles early…which allows (students) to explore their interests in practical, hands-on ways.”
• “Everyone from the most esteemed professors to our incredible dining hall workers, to the student life staff, to our groundskeepers” is described as “the most incredible support system.”
• Faculty are “highly experienced and enthusiastic” who do “constant check-ups and meetings with you. They want to make sure that you’re not only succeeding in their class, but also having an amazing, enriching time in college.”
• Students praised the small class sizes, which allow for bonding “with both my professors and my peers, and it gives me more opportunities for success.”
• �鶹��Ƶ’s experiential learning model provides an opportunity “where students can use both classroom learning and real-world experience to understand the information being taught.”
• Students highlighted the university’s “strong culture of involvement” where “students are constantly balancing academics with leadership roles, service organizations, research, athletics, and creative projects, and that energy creates an environment where it feels normal to want to do big things.”

�鶹��Ƶ the Princeton Review

The Princeton Review (), founded in 1981, is an education services company known for its tutoring, test-prep, admission services, school rankings, books, and other resources. Headquartered in New York, NY, it is not affiliated with Princeton University, and it is not a magazine.

The Best 392 Colleges is the 35th annual edition of The Princeton Review’s flagship college guide which debuted in 1992. It is one of more than 150 Princeton Review books in a published by Penguin Random House. The book and its annual student-survey-based college rankings have been featured on NBC TODAY more than two dozen times over the years and referenced by media from NPR to The Wall Street Journal and The Chronicle of Higher Education.

For full information on move-in and New Student Orientation, visit the New Student Orientation website.

Be mindful of campus construction projects, including the Stattery Center and Mooney Building. Information on traffic and parking can be found in the traffic and parking article.

What should I expect on move-in day?

Know your Schar Center check-in time, accessible to you via your Acorn Account, and print your dashboard sign, accessible to you via Phoenix Living.

All new students should have received one (including first years and transfers, living on and off campus). The Schar Center check-in is the one-stop shop for all things check-in related. New students will receive their new student packet, which contains their orientation materials, name tag, parking pass (if applicable), room key (if applicable), Phoenix Card (if you submitted a photo in advance), pre-ordered wristband and New Student Convocation rain tickets.

When you arrive, you’ll be greeted by volunteers who will walk you through the whole check-in process — you won’t even have to get out of your car! Make sure you are compliant with all immunization requirements to avoid any potential delays checking in.

After you check in, you’ll be given a hangtag. The hangtag corresponds with your move-in location, and it will get you access to that specific area. It is important to have that hanging in your rearview mirror during move-in.

Once you get to your move-in area, you’ll be greeted by a team of Orientation Leaders, Resident Assistants, Move-in Team members and �鶹��Ƶ staff who will help you unload your car and get moved into your room. Students should know the names of both their neighborhood and building as signage around campus may vary.

Once you’ve finished unloading, you’ll move your car to a long-term parking location for the rest of the day. New Student Orientation begins at 4:30 p.m.

What should I bring and how should I pack?

The suggested packing list is available on the “Your �鶹��Ƶ Bound Checklist” webpage through New Student Programs. There is also a Residence Life webpage that details the residential policies on what not to bring. Pack your belongings in a plastic tote (in case of rain) or boxes. Everything should be labeled with your name, room number and a contact phone number. This includes suitcases, boxes, lamps, loose items, shelves, etc. Dress comfortably, bring water and snacks, and enjoy the process.

While there are lots of helpers on Move-in Day, we do encourage families to arrive ready to help move their student in. Wear sneakers, bring a dolly if you have one and pack as if you’ll be carrying things yourself.

What if I forgot something?

It’s OK if you don’t have everything you need right away. In fact, less is more. Residence hall rooms are small and you won’t need to bring a trailer full of stuff with you. You can always have items sent to the mailroom or grab an �鶹��Ƶ Express bus to local area shopping.

Will we have time to hang out with our family?

Move-In Day isn’t only for the students; �鶹��Ƶ has programming planned for the entire family over the weekend.

All new students are required to attend New Student Orientation following move-in but the whole family is part of the �鶹��Ƶ community. There are several events specifically for families during New Student Orientation, including a session with �鶹��Ƶ’s senior leaders, a meeting with your student’s academic advisor, a coffee social for you to meet other �鶹��Ƶ families, and a Family Sendoff Picnic. You can view the full orientation schedule online.

How can I make connections and get involved?

Get involved and go to the Student Organization Fair on Thursday, Sept. 4, to introduce yourself to different clubs and groups. Get on Phoenix Connect to join clubs, learn about upcoming events and more.

Talk to your student leaders as well. Orientation Leaders, Resident Assistants, �鶹��Ƶ 1010 peer educators are all there to help you get connected to the �鶹��Ƶ community. The Student Involvement Office also has Involvement Ambassadors who are here to help you explore the multitude of opportunities to connect. Visit the second floor of the Moseley Center to check out the Student Life offices and meet new people.

“It’s okay if your first few weeks at �鶹��Ƶ feel a little uncomfortable—that’s often where the most meaningful growth happens,” said Kirstin Carrier, assistant dean of campus life and director of residence life. “College is full of new experiences that will challenge you, and stepping outside your comfort zone is one of the best ways to learn more about yourself. Whether it’s introducing yourself to someone new, attending a campus event, joining a club, or asking for help when you need it, every small step will help you find your community and make �鶹��Ƶ feel like home.”

What if I don’t make new friends immediately?

College is a marathon, not a sprint. Take time to try new things, join a club or study abroad.

“Orientation is just the beginning of your college story not the finish line. You don’t have to meet your best friends during the first week,” said Destiny Payne, interim director of New Student Programs. “Every class, residence hall conversation, student organization, and campus event is another opportunity to connect with someone new. Give yourself grace, stay open to new experiences, and trust that your community will grow over time. The friendships that matter most are often built through shared experiences.

Late Night �鶹��Ƶ also offers lots of fun options Thursday through Saturday nights and it is a great way to meet new people.

�鶹��Ƶ will soon welcome the Class of 2030 on Friday, Aug. 21, for Move-In Day, and �鶹��Ƶ Campus Safety and Police have provided information on changes in traffic and available parking areas.

All new students and families must report first to the central check-in at Schar Center. All incoming traffic should travel to Schar Center from the northern entrance to campus along North Williamson Avenue. At Schar Center, students will receive orientation materials and directions to their move-in location for their residence hall. Please follow the driving directions to the Schar Center and then to your Residential Neighborhood.

Due to the logistics related to Move-in Day, �鶹��Ƶ faculty and staff are asked to carpool if possible and to park in the following lots on Friday. The lots are highlighted in yellow on the map below.

• Koury lot
• Oaks lot (parking for staff working at Schar Center Check-in)
• Arts West
• South Campus (no parking in the spaces reserved for Acorn Academy at �鶹��Ƶ)
• Station at Mill Point

Related Articles

• �鶹��Ƶ’s Class of 2030 arrives Aug. 21
• What to know for �鶹��Ƶ Move-In Day 2026
• Opening Day 2026: �鶹��Ƶ celebrates progress and success while mapping the path ahead

As the Class of 2030 arrives on campus and begins their four years at �鶹��Ƶ, current �鶹��Ƶ students offer their advice to the incoming class.

�鶹��Ƶ will welcome more than 1,600 new students for the 2026-27 academic year, with the Class of 2030 moving to campus on Friday, Aug. 21.

Parker Sterling ’28

Major(s): Biology and History
�Ѿ��Դǰ���:��Chemistry, Neuroscience, and Peace and Conflict Studies
Hometown: Randleman, North Carolina
Campus Involvement: Phoenix Racing Team (Business Lead), Residence Life (Senior RA), Center for Leadership (Leadership Ambassador), Glen Raven Biomechanics Lab (Lab Assistant)

Why did you choose �鶹��Ƶ?

“I chose �鶹��Ƶ because I knew after the first tour that I couldn’t imagine myself anywhere else. I loved being able to have majors across disciplines, the campus, the dorms and all of the people I met.”

What did you wish you knew as a first-year student?

“I wish I knew how common it is to gain and lose friends in the first year. Everyone is discovering who they are and who they want to be, so it may take a while to find friends that you can rely on.”

What advice do you have for the incoming �鶹��Ƶ Class of 2030?

“Take every opportunity that presents itself; you never know who you will meet or what doors it will open.”

What surprised you most about college?

“I was most surprised by the bonds I’ve built with faculty and staff. I didn’t have a high school teacher I felt was truly a mentor, but �鶹��Ƶ has given me so many people that I feel confident going to for advice.”

What is your favorite part about �鶹��Ƶ?

“My favorite part about �鶹��Ƶ is the people. I am forever grateful to the amazing friends who have supported me and cared about me to no end. I don’t want to imagine what college would be like without them.”

Ari Verinder ’28

Major(s): Biology (Concentration: Biotechnology/Molecular Biotechnology)
�Ѿ��Դǰ���:��Chemistry and Food Studies
Hometown: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Campus Involvement: Residence Life, Club Climbing and The Writing Center

Why did you choose �鶹��Ƶ?

What did you wish you knew as a first-year student?

“I wish I had known to get more involved in my specific interests on campus sooner. There really is something for everybody at �鶹��Ƶ; you just have to find it, get involved, and, best of all, enjoy it!”

What advice do you have for the incoming �鶹��Ƶ Class of 2030?

What surprised you most about college?

What is your favorite part about �鶹��Ƶ?

“Don’t be afraid to meet new people. �鶹��Ƶ is small enough that it’s easy to just stick with who and what you already know, so push yourself outside of your comfort zone.”

-Ari Verinder ’28

Ella Stewart ’27

Major(s): Dance Performance & Choreography, English (Concentration in Creative Writing)
Hometown: Columbia, South Carolina
Campus Involvement: Student Union Board (Brand Engagement Chair), New Student Orientation (Student Coordinator), Kappa Delta member and The Writing Center.

Why did you choose �鶹��Ƶ?

“I chose �鶹��Ƶ because I knew I wanted to make close connections with my professors and classmates, which made the small class sizes very appealing, and �鶹��Ƶ has a strong Performing Arts department, which aligns with my future career goals of being a professional dancer. I also knew I wanted to study abroad and �鶹��Ƶ offers so many opportunities to study around the world. Additionally, I was drawn to the College Fellows program, which is a scholarship program where I conduct a research project within my major throughout my time at �鶹��Ƶ.”

What did you wish you knew as a first-year student?

“I wish I had known that not every moment of college is going to be absolutely perfect. It’s easy to have high expectations that everything will go smoothly all the time, and while there will be plenty of great experiences and memories, there will also be challenges. It’s completely normal to struggle sometimes, and you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.”

What advice do you have for the incoming �鶹��Ƶ Class of 2030?

“My biggest piece of advice is to put yourself out there! I made my closest friends at �鶹��Ƶ by just inviting myself to hang out with them. It can feel awkward and scary at first to ask people to hang out with you, but it really makes a difference. If there is someone in your class who you think you’d get along with, ask them to lunch or coffee! You can also meet people by getting involved in clubs and organizations, so sign up for what interests you. Getting involved helped me find my place on campus, so be open to trying everything, because that is how you can find your community.”

What surprised you most about college?

“I was most surprised by the amount of independence and freedom I suddenly had. It can be hard to adjust to being away from your family and the comfort of home, but you also start learning how to manage your own time and responsibilities. My schedule looked a lot different than it did in high school, and I became the one in charge of how to spend my time. This shift surprised me at first, but overall it helped me grow into my independence and become more confident doing things on my own.”

What is your favorite part about �鶹��Ƶ?

“My favorite part about �鶹��Ƶ is the people I’ve met through my majors and leadership experiences, especially the mentors who have supported me along the way. The staff and faculty here are so kind and encouraging to each individual student, and their guidance has helped me grow in my academics and in my leadership. �鶹��Ƶ has given me a tight-knit community of peers and mentors I can rely on, and I have met so many people who have shaped me into who I am today.”

---

Lealand Oakes ’27

Major(s): Psychology
Hometown: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Campus Involvement: New Student Programs, Women’s Club Rugby
Sigma Kappa, �鶹��Ƶ 1010 Peer Educator, Psi Chi and Psychology Honor Society

Why did you choose �鶹��Ƶ?

“I chose �鶹��Ƶ because they genuinely care about every student, even if they haven’t fully invested in �鶹��Ƶ yet. They put so much care into just the admissions process and first-year experience to ensure people feel cared about and seen. Of course, it doesn’t stop there; professors are always there to help and support their students, get to know them beyond the surface level, and truly want to see them succeed.”

What did you wish you knew as a first-year student?

“I wish I knew that sometimes the hard parts of transitioning to college don’t hit you immediately. They look different for everyone and can range anywhere from after the first month has passed to the start of the second semester and beyond. Everyone has their own experiences, so it is important to know your resources on campus and have people you can go to when those bumps in the road happen.”

What advice do you have for the incoming �鶹��Ƶ Class of 2030?

“Get out of your room, do new things, be involved. This can look different for everyone, but it’s so helpful for finding your people in this new chapter. I would also say that taking care of yourself is so important. Holistic wellness goes a long way in college. If you are taking care of one aspect of wellness that can bleed into another area. Do things that make you happy, take care of your body and use your resources.”

What surprised you most about college?

“I was surprised that I was still able to get the same support in class and out of class that I had the opportunity to receive in high school. I was worried that as soon as I got to college, everything would be on me. I can say with full confidence that I have not needed to shoulder everything all on my own. �鶹��Ƶ has so many resources that cover a wide range of aspects of college life.”

What is your favorite part about �鶹��Ƶ?

“My favorite part about �鶹��Ƶ is that there are so many people from so many different places. Coming to �鶹��Ƶ, I didn’t really know many people, and I am so happy that was the case. It was nerve-racking for sure, but it meant that I have learned so much and met so many people I wouldn’t have met otherwise.”

Below is a selection of events open to the entire �鶹��Ƶ community; more can be found on the official Planning Week website below.

Monday, Aug. 17

Opening Day
Alumni Gym, Koury Athletic Center; Events start at 8:30 a.m.

Planning Week 2026 kicks off with Opening Day on Aug. 17, first with a community-wide reception in Alumni Gym followed by the presentation of �鶹��Ƶ Medallions to Jim Donathan, Don Grady and Mary Thornton. Katy Rouse, professor of economics, will also be named the Trustee Chair for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching. Following these recognitions, President Connie Ledoux Book will delivery her annual Opening Day address.

Since 2011, the �鶹��Ƶ community has collected school supply items for the children in Alamance County. Donations can be made at the Opening Day breakfast or at campus drop-off locations through Thursday, Aug. 20. Details on donation sites and needed items will be emailed to faculty and staff. This initiative is co-sponsored by the Office of the Dean of Students, Staff Advisory Council, and Kernodle Center for Civic Life.

Breakout Sessions

Following the president’s address from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. a variety of breakout sessions will be available for all members of the �鶹��Ƶ community, including:

• Recommendations from the SOAR Strategic Planning Committee
• Building the Innovation Hub: �鶹��Ƶ as a Regional Center for Creativity
• Preparing Together for Student Success
• Thriving Together: The Sport Collaborative and the Opportunity in Club Sports
• Summer at �鶹��Ƶ
• Changing the Trajectory – Roberts Academy and the Roberts Center for Dyslexia and Engaged Learning
• HealthEU, the Slattery Center, and Our Research Coalitions
• Mentoring in Meaningful Relationships Implementation Gallary Walk and Next Steps
• Wise Moves During Higher Education Pressures
• School of Engineering and Computing

All members of the �鶹��Ƶ community are then invited to a picnic on the Lakeside Patio at noon. Members of �鶹��Ƶ’s schools and colleges will meet from 12:45 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 18

Student Employment Essentials
Moseley 215; 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

The goal of the workshop is to provide staff and faculty with an understanding of student employment policies and processes, to include recruiting, job posting, screening candidates, work agreements, payroll, orientation, onboarding, evaluations and termination. Please contact Kameryn Taylor at ktaylor54@elon.edu for any questions about this workshop.

Championing First-Generation Student Success
Koenigsberger Learning Center Room 127; 2 to 3 p.m.

This session will provide participants with an understanding of the first-generation community on campus and how �鶹��Ƶ approached first-generation student success. Participants will identify ways they can incorporate ways to support first-generation college students in their classes and extracurricular opportunities.

Merger and Integration Q&A
LaRose Student Commons 200; 3:15 to 4:15 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 19

Merger and Integration Q&A
Turner Theatre 101; 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.

Embedding Inclusive Excellence in Our Work
Belk Pavilion 208; 10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

Inclusive excellence remains a strategy for creating an academic community reflective of well-being and a sense of belonging. In striving for greater levels of student success and employee vitality, initiatives across the university demonstrate partnerships and efforts to infuse inclusive excellence principles in daily work. This session is an opportunity to gain an update on what is happening to foster respect for human differences and to share ideas for ideas for how faculty and staff might make inclusive excellence embedded rather than additive in teaching, mentoring, and service.

Vivvi Childcare and Early Learning Information Session
Sankey Hall 206; 2 to 3 p.m.

Learn more about the Acorn Academy, �鶹��Ƶ’s partnership with Vivvi to provide employer-sponsored child care on campus.

�鶹��Ƶ Campus and Community Resource Fair
Sato Commons Great Hall in the Global Neighborhood, 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Open to all faculty, staff, and student leaders who may already be back on campus, this event is meant to be an interactive tabling fair to highlight what everyone needs to know to provide resources to students. Explore more than 50 departments/tables – whether you have been here for more than a decade or are brand new to �鶹��Ƶ, come learn about resources for students and faculty/staff, take a moment to reconnect with offices on campus, or learn about opportunities for collaboration and partnerships! Refreshments and Raffle.

Thursday, Aug. 20

Working with Accommodations & Accessibility: A Partnership for Access
Sankey 106; 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

This session will highlight how the Office of Academic Accommodations & Accessibility, the Office of Compliance, the Disabilities Advisory Committee, and faculty partners collaborate to support access at �鶹��Ƶ. Presenters will share updates from the past year, including themes from campus listening sessions, revised faculty/staff resources, accessibility and accommodations data, and practical guidance for supporting students and colleagues.

College Coffee – Employee Resources Groups
Phi Beta Kappa Commons (Rain Location: Koury Concourse); 10:15 to 10:45 a.m.

�鶹��Ƶ’s weekly tradition of community gathering begins with this year’s first College Coffee. Come (re)learn about the ERGs on campus and pick up some Phoenix swag to show your school spirit! College Coffee continues throughout the year on Tuesday mornings from 9:40 a.m to 10:20 a.m.

• Advocates for Diversity and Accessibility
• Amazing Admins
• API (Asian and Pacific Islander)
• Black
• Carpool Connections
• Catholic
• Christian
• �鶹��Ƶ Alumni
• Employees with Children
• Jewish
• Latinx/Hispanic
• LGBTQIA+
• Social Media
• Staff Advisory Council
• Supervisors of Student Employees
• Sustainability
• Veterans
• Women’s Forum
• Young Professionals

Friday, Aug. 21

Move-In Day

Students officially return to campus on Friday, Aug. 21. More information about Move-In Day and New Student Orientation can be found online.

Saturday, Aug. 23

New Student Convocation
Under the Oaks (Rain Location: Schar Center); 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

New Student Convocation marks the official opening of the academic year and welcomes the Class of 2029 and transfer students.

University Directory Photos

All �鶹��Ƶ faculty and staff members are encouraged to have their photo included in the university’s online directory. Please make plans to have a new or updated photograph taken. If you are new to �鶹��Ƶ, if your photo is missing from the campus directory, or if your photo is more than three years old, please have a new photo taken by the Office of University Communications. No appointment is necessary, simply just drop in during a session that suits you. The portraits are taken from chest up on a gray backdrop in a photo studio.

The photo studio is now located in the southwest corner of Alumni Gym, close to West Haggard Avenue. Please enter through the external doors in the southwest corner of Alumni Gym, noted by a red star on this map.

Tuesday, August 18: 2 to 4 p.m.

Thursday, August 20: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

It was through the Gender & Sexuality Living-Learning Community that Lagunes Flores discovered something more: a community that helped her realize she wasn’t “just another student,” but someone who mattered deeply to the people around her.

“It made me realize that I played a bigger role than I initially did,” Lagunes Flores said. “I thought it was just going to be, ‘Oh, another first year,’ but it made me realize that I mattered a lot more than what I thought.”

What began as a search for belonging has evolved into a commitment to help others find it, too. That transformation started the day she moved to campus.

A journey of self-discovery

Lagunes Flores’s journey began during a Phoenix Friday event, where she experienced a sense of belonging and purpose after meeting another incoming student who encouraged her to apply to the Gender & Sexuality LLC. The two would later become roommates.

“I thought to myself, ‘Well, okay, at least I’ll have one friend at �鶹��Ƶ and a roommate I know I can trust,'” said Lagunes Flores, who joined the university community through the Leon and Lorraine Watson scholarship in the Odyssey Program.

What she didn’t know at the time was that the connection would help shape the foundation of her first year of college. After settling in on move-in day, Lagunes Flores and her roommates gathered the pride flags they had brought for their shared living space.

“One of my roommates was like, ‘Before putting them up, do you want to just go outside or go in the hallways and run with them?'” Lagunes Flores said.

Carrying their flags through the residence hall, she and her roommates celebrated the start of their first year and the community they had established. For Lagunes Flores, this moment meant so much more than celebrating move-in day.

“That was the first time I had actually experienced a sense of community with other queer people,” she said.

Growing up in a Native American community in Lumberton, North Carolina, Lagunes Flores had few opportunities to explore many of her intersecting identities.

“The only identity that I really got to explore before undergrad was the money struggles and things like that,” she said.

�鶹��Ƶ became a springboard for self-discovery, helping her embrace parts of her identity that had remained largely unexplored. That journey included gaining a deeper understanding of her queer identity. Experiences and friendships with fellow students led her to the support and community she needed.

One of those experiences came during a Drag Extravaganza event hosted by the Gender and LGBTQIA Center (GLC), featuring drag star Stormie Daie, who invited audience members to celebrate diverse identities and encouraged them to cheer when they heard one that resonated with them.

“That was the solidifying moment where I was comfortable in my sexuality,” Lagunes Flores said. “That was when I found my label.”

Building a foundation of belonging

Beyond helping her explore her identity, the Gender & Sexuality LLC also connected Lagunes Flores with mentors who would shape her academic and professional journey. Among them were Lauren Gulimette, an associate professor of philosophy and co-coordinator of Women’s Gender and Sexualities studies, and Luis Garay, director of the GLC, who are both co-advisors of the LLC.

Through conversations with Gulimette, Lagunes Flores discovered a passion for Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies and eventually added it as a minor, alongside her major in elementary education and a minor in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).

Guilmette also connected her with the PACE program, which helped her secure a campus position and introduced her to opportunities she hadn’t considered as a first-year student.

Among them was an internship with Transcend Alamance, a nonprofit organization that supports transgender individuals in Alamance County. As an intern, Lagunes Flores helps write the organization’s bi-monthly newsletter.

Those who have worked closely with Lagunes Flores have noticed her growth and commitment to building community, noting that she is someone who actively creates spaces where others feel welcomed and connected.

“While Maria can at first seem shy and quiet, it has been a pleasure to watch her find community and come into their own as an active participant in the classroom and a student organizer on campus,” Gulimette said.

Garay echoed Gulimette, highlighting that Lagunes Flores’ commitment to inclusivity and building connections extends beyond the living-learning community itself.

“She brings floormates and friends outside of her residence hall to our monthly community dinners, extending our values of connection and relationship-building to others across campus,” Garay said.

Tibs Vance ‘29, a fellow student and friend, said that Lagunes Flores has a gift for helping others feel included.

“Maria is always really good at inviting me to events she helps organize or events she thinks I’ll enjoy,” he said. “Her understanding of others in her communities really helps her support and form impactful connections.

The sense of belonging and community that she found through the Gender & Sexuality LLC and with students, such as with Vance, now informs how she approaches leadership opportunities and her future career goals.

Looking ahead, she hopes to help students explore their identities and find community, just as she did during her first year at �鶹��Ƶ. After graduation, she plans to teach in the classroom before pursuing a graduate degree and a career in higher education.

Her first-year experiences have shaped not only her career aspirations but also her understanding of belonging and what pride looks like in everyday life.

“Belonging means knowing you’re loved in a space and that space makes you feel welcome,” she said. “You being you is an act of everyday pride.”

�鶹��Ƶ honors Pride Month stories

As part of LGBTQ+ Pride Month, �鶹��Ƶ is sharing stories through Today at �鶹��Ƶ that highlight students, faculty and staff who contribute to a campus environment where cultural identities and experiences are celebrated year-round. Throughout the month and year, �鶹��Ƶ also offers resources and events to support the LGBTQ+ community.